The massive search for missing Alzheimer’s patient Peggy Mangan has ended in tragedy as her body was discovered in a field.

Two volunteers who were out looking for the 65-year-old found her remains at around 3.30pm on Saturday, in a field by Ballymun Road, beside Ikea, in north Co Dublin.

The grandmother had been missing since last Tuesday prompting a huge search effort from her community.

Heartbreakingly, there were unconfirmed reports that Mrs Mangan’s dog was still by her side when she was discovered.

Gardai sealed off the area for forensic examination as dozens of onlookers stood in silence on the motorway in tribute to the Dublin granny.

Her body was removed to the city morgue while the office of the State pathologist was notified.

Councillor Paul McAuliffe praised local residents for their support over the last few days.

He told the Irish Sunday Mirror: “It’s very upsetting news for the family, we are al thinking of them.

“There are many people in Finglas who are very sad to hear about Peggy because over the last week, there have been many, many people out to help the family at different parts of the day and night.

A CCTV image of Peggy Mangan walking her dog

“And I would like to thank everybody who was involved in the searches because it was very important as time went on that more and more people came out .

“And the community in Finglas and Ballymun, and all across Dublin really did respond.

“There were hundreds of people involved, I was down there myself and I know many people who were, and I think it’s important that we know that there is a strong community spirit in Dublin and that it supports people like Peggy’s family at this time.”

Peggy had not been seen since leaving her house on Mount Tallant Avenue, in Terenure, on Tursday.

She left her home with her Cavalier King Charles spaniel at around 11am.

Her family made a public appeal to try and find her, and there were sightings of her near the set of Mrs Brown’s Boys on Tuesday.

She was later spotted near the Topaz garage in Glasnevin, Co Dublin.

Cllr McAuliffe said: “Everybody took it to heart, people have really got involved in the search over the last week.

“I suppose the fact that there were a number of sightings over the four days made it seem as though she was traveling a bit more northerly.

“She seemed just out of reach each time so I think it’s just incredibly tragic.”

Gardai sealed off the area for forensic examination on Saturday night as dozens of shocked people parked up and looked on from the hard shoulder of the motorway that runs alongside the scene.

The below footage was handed out by gardai as the search intensified during the week.